CAUSING an internet frenzy with her debut single I Wish I was A Punk Rocker made Sandi Thom an overnight chart success.

The Scottish songstress managed a weighty online audience of 70,000 by screening a series of gigs from her basement in Tooting.

But in the ever-fickle music business, the predictable backlash against her seemingly rapid rise was swift. Critics dismissed her story of being a struggling artist as being yet another example of cunningly crafted spin.

Rather than sink under the weight of reaction, Sandi did what came best and let the music do the talking for her.

"I was annoyed by the negative stories as I felt it was just my word against whatever paper it was saying those stories. It was like I didn't have a leg to stand on, so I just shut my mouth and took it on the chin.

The whole album has done so well that it has superseded anything that's been said about it. I am now working on the second album down in my basement again and it's going really well," explained the 26-year old on the success she has enjoyed in the wake of artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Lily Allen, who both used the internet to great effect.

Surprisingly, when her single gained its initial release in 2005 the song barely scraped into the top 60. But the power of the internet soon turned people on to her well-crafted pop which saw her gain a BRIT Award nomination.

There's a gutsy rawness to her vocals that's seen comparisons with the likes of Sheryl Crow, and has won a strong following on the live circuit.

To date she has played many festivals including Glastonbury, Guilfest and toured France and appeared on the bill of the Fuji Rock festival in Japan.

Though her debut album released by Sony stormed the top of the charts too, yet can't help but wonder if she feared that she would be regarded as a novelty success.

"I'm not sure I'll ever be able to replicate Punk Rocker as it was one in a million, but you still hope the rest of your music will be just as good. Every artist has one particular song that everyone thinks of."

To her credit, Sandi's emergence on to the pop scene was not in fact an overnight flash-in-the pan X Factor style story.

The Aberdeenshire-born singer started out earning her musical dues in a local band at the age of 14 called the Residents. It was an unlikely move for the teenager as the other band members were all at least twice her age and favoured playing retro sounds which dated from well before her birth.

"That was a good time for me, I still keep in touch with some of the group and always see them when I go home. I don't think I'd have grown up loving live music if I hadn't have done that," she recalled.

Having gained a taste for gigging, she went on to hone her skills at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. She admits that much of what she achieved there was overly elaborate and was grateful to encounter Sir Paul McCartney. He offered her some valuable tips on how to make it in the industry.

"He was just very easy to get on with and told us to keep things simple."

From there she moved to London where a publishing deal came her band's way which was to pave the way for a breakthrough.

After a such a strong start to a career that's seen more than half a million album sales, many artists would insist on recording somewhere flashy for their next album.

But the Scottish star is more than content with putting Pink and The Lilly (as it's been provisionally titled) together at her modest Victorian home.

Naturally, she does miss her native Scotland and heads north of the border to catch up with family whenever the chance arises.

Much like any girl in her mid 20s, she is making the most of being surrounded by London's ever-buzzing arts and music scene. It's proved something of an inspiration to her, though the young singer is keen to keep the momentum going.

"So much of last year was about touring- which is what I got into music for. With these latest dates I thought I'd try out some of the new songs just on my own without my band before we do another full tour. I'm just getting ready for it now and it should be really cool."

Such enthusiasm will serve her well and it's a testament to her character that she’s kept her nerve over the kind of press that would have crushed far less determined singers.

Sandi Thom plays the Astor Theatre in Deal on Friday, February 22. Tickets £10-£12.50. Box office 01304 381134.